"Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on.'" Mark 12:43-44
This widow exemplified the greatest commandment--'love the Lord your God with all...' (Mark 12:30). She loved God with all she had, holding nothing in reserve. In the end she was wealthier than all the rich for while she had nothing in this world she had the favor and pleasure of God. All that we have is God's and to love Him with all means putting it all at His feet for His glory.
Father, all that I have is from You and I lay it before you with the desire to love and glorify You through it. If all is spent and I end only with you then I'll be richer than when I began.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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In the parable, Jesus describes a vineyard owner who rents his vineyard out to farmers and goes on a trip. When it is time to collect his rent, the farmers beat up and killed the collectors. The owner then sends his son thinking they will respect him. The tenants killed the son thinking the inheritance would go to them. Jesus now asks the Pharisees what the owner would do. The story is too close to home for them and they want to arrest Him, but they feared the people. As part of their plan, the Pharisees seek to catch Jesus in His words so they can say He does not pay His taxes and obey the Roman law. Jesus saw right through their plan and has them show Him a coin. They thought there was no way out of this but Jesus told them to render to Caesar what was his and to God what was His. Jesus amazed them again. The Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection, came to Jesus with a story about the resurrection. What were they thinking? When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus said to love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself. There is indication here that this Pharisee was coming to understand the truth Jesus was telling and Jesus told him he was not far from the Kingdom of God. Jesus quotes David who calls his son (Christ) Lord to see if the religious leaders had understood that the Messiah would be more than a human. He caught then blank but the people listened with delight. Jesus then gives a warning about being a hypocrite. The disciples admired the Temple building as they left and Jesus told them that in time to come there would not be one stone left on another. This peaked their appetite for more signs of the end. As they set on the Mount of Olives, Jesus shared with them about what the end time would look like. He told them to be on guard for many would try to destroy them and lead them astray. They would have great opportunities to witness and the Holy Spirit would give them what they needed to say, when they needed to say it. After He tells them more signs, He warns them again to be on guard. Be on guard and keep watch for the time will come unexpectantly. Be faithful and watch.
ReplyDeleteReflective Question ~ What are the things we are to render to God?